Pencil



E. J. HOFFMAN.

PENCIL APPLICATION FILED -AUG. 1 6, I921.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

llll/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIf!!!IIIIIIIIIIlllilllllflflfllll ATTORNEY WITNESS:

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J'- HOFFMAN, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922'.

Application filed August 16, 1921. Serial No. 492,693.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, EDWARD J. HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pencils, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has reference to a pencil of that class known as a magazine tudinally in the bore of the barrel to project the pointed lead through the pencil or to project thele'ad through the barrel to writing position or to move the lead into the barrel when the pencil is not required for use, said means being in the nature of a rotary element that has its operative portion arranged exteriorly of the barrel.

It is a further object to produce a magazine pencil in which the magazine is in the nature of a follower, being movable longitudinally in the barrel of the pencil and which is also integrally formed with means for gripping the stick of lead which is to be projected to writing position through the barrel, while in addition thereto the barrel is provided with a clip for holding the same from the pocket of the uwr and which clip is held on the barrel by the means which serves as a guide for the magazine or follower operating element.

- The foregoing, and other objects which will appear as the nature of the inventlon is better understood, may be accomplished.

by a construction, combination and o erative assoclation of parts, such as 15 disc osed by the drawings which accompany and which form part i of this specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an approximately central longitudinal sectional View through a magazine pencil in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on' the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the com blned follower and lead stick magazine.

F lgure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-o of Figure 4.

lFigure 6 is a perspective view of the c 1p.

Figure? is a perspective view of a modified form of the combined magazine and follower. 4

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral l'desi ates the barrel of my improved pencil. he barrel is of the usuat tubular form, having one of its ends reduced and pointed, as at 2 and its other end provided with internal threads. The barrel has its bore grooved centrally and longitudinally at diametrically opposed po1nts,'and these grooves are indicated by the numeral. 3. 1

The combined lead stick magazine and follower is broadly indicated by the numeral4 and comprises a body member which is in the nature of a straight plate which is centrally formed with a long1tudinaldepression providing one of the faces thereof with a groove 5. Preferably both ends of the plate that constitutes the body of the combined follower and magazine are flanged in the I same direction. These flanges, indicated by the numeral 6, being substantially semi-cylindrical in plan and being of a width, at their juncture withthe plate 4, less than the width of the said plate. In this manner the projecting edges of the plate provide what may be termed tongues, and the same are received in the grooves 3 in the barrel 1. The outer end of the plate 4, or the end thereof adjacent to the threaded end of the barrel 1 is provided with a nut member 7. Preferably :the nut is round in the semi-cylmdrical roove 5 and secured therein in any desire "or preferred manner. The plate 4, at a .suitable distance from its opposite end is slitted both longitudinally and transversely, the longitudinal slits being at'a sli ht inward angle toward the transverlse slit, the latter slit passing through the we 1 boun ed by these slits is bent into the lan, being snugly recelved in' rovided by the groove 5. The metal grooves at the said end ofthe plate 4, and

same to be frictionally engaged by the wall of the lower or inner portion of the groove 5, which, for distinction, is in Figure ofthe drawings, indicated by the numeral 9. a The rounded flanges 6 have their edges in contacting engagement with one of the sides of the bore of the barrel 1, the edges of the plate 4, which I have referred to as the tongues being, as stated, received in the grooves 3, permit of the flanged side of the device beingemployed as a means for sustaining lead sticks in the device, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

The 'open interiorly threaded end of the flange 11 of which resting on the outer end of the barrel. Arranged on the cap nut. 10 is the disk-like portion 12 of a spring clip 12. The clip has its body portion 12 rounded away from. the ring 12, and from thence rounded inwardly and terminates in an outwardly extending hook-like end 13.

Passing through the non-threaded bore of the cap nut and the opening in the disk 12 is the non-threaded portion 14 of a screw 15 that is threaded through the nut 7 and that is guided in the groove 5 in the lead stick magazine and follower 4. The screw 15 has its outer end provided with an ornamental head 18 whose inner end 17 rests directly on the disk portion 12 of the clip, and the numeral 16 indicates a shoulder on the nonthreaded portion of the screw which is in contacting engagement with the inner face of the cap nut.

A lead stick is engaged between the jaw 8 and the wall 9 in the groove of the follower member. The lead stick so engaged is indicated by the numeral 19, and the pointed end of this lead stick being directed through the opening in the reduced and inwardly flared end 2 of the barrel. It will be apparent that by turning the operating element or screw 15, the combined follower and lead magazine will be moved longitudinally in the barrel 1. The combined follower and magazine is held against turning by the edges thereof being received in the grooves 3. The operating element or screw 15 is properly guided by the ca nut and by the groove 5 in the combined f9 lower and lead stick magazine. It will therefore be apparent that upon the turning of the milled head 18 of the screw 15 in one direction, the follower will draw the lead stick 19 into the barrel and by turning the said headin ano poSite direction, the pointed end of the lea stick will be projected a desired distance through the barrel to writing position; When the lead stick has been worn and a new one is to be attached between the gripping jaws of the follower,

the ca nut is unscrewed, and a direct pull upon the lowered head 18 will permit of the combined follower being wholly withdrawn at from the, barrel. 1 The lead sticks 20, in Figbarrel 1 is closed by a cap screw 10, the

ure 3 of the drawings will rest upon the inner face of the plate 4, when the combined follower and magazine'is entirely withdrawn from the barrel, being held in this position by the operator. The worn lead stick 19 is removed, and a new lead stick 20 is inserted between the-jaws, the follower again repositioned in the barrel, the cap nut again screwed in the threaded end of the barrel and the pencil is again ready for use.

In Figure 7 the combined follower and magazine is slightly different from that previously described, the same including a body plate 20 that has its corners provided with outstanding lugs 21 to be received in the grooves in the barrel. The plate 20, at the lower "end thereof is slitted and the metal bounded by the slits is bent to' provide the same with the lead gripping spring jaw 22.

Above the jaw there are formed on the plate 20' laterally arranged substantially semi-cylindrical disks 23, and on the upper end of the plate there is a round disk 24. The plate is centrally provided with a tubular portion 25 which has'its bore communicating with an opening in the disk 24, the opening in the said disk being threaded, as at 26, and if desired, the bore of the tube 25 may be likewise threaded. The threads are engaged by the operating screw, and the leads rest between the disks 23 and 24 on both sides of the plate. The construction is such that a greater number of leads may be carried by the follower.

It is, of course, to be understood that chan es in proportion, material and other detai s of construction may be made should it be found desirable, and it is thought that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the construction and advantages of the improvement to those skilled in the art to which such inventions relate.

Having described theinvention, Iclaim 1 In a writing instrument, as herein described, a barrel, a combined follower and lead stick magazine in the barrel, guide means between the follower and barrel, revoluble means operable exteriorly of the barrel for impartin a. longitudinal movement to the combin follower and magazine, and 116 means integrally formed on the'magazine for eng gmg the lead stick to be projected to operative position.

2 A writing instrument, as herein described, includinga barrel, having its bore 120 grooved longitudinally at diagonally opposed polnts, a combined follower and lead magazine comprising a plate whose edges are recelved in the barrel, said plate having its ends flanged in the same direction and IOVldlIl therebetween a compartment for ead stic means integrally formed on one end of the plate providlng grip ing elements for a lead stick to be projecte throu h the barrel or to be drawn into the barre and revoluble means operative exteriorly of the barrel and engaging the plate for imparting a lon itudinal movement thereto.

3. in a Writing instrument, a barrel having its bore grooved longitudinally, a combined follower and magazine in the barrel, said combined follower and magazine comprising a plate whose edges are received in the grooves in the barrel, said plate having its ends flanged in the same direction to provide therebetween a compartment for lead sticks, said plate being grooved longitudinally and having in the groove at one of the ends thereof a nut, the opposite end of the plate being integrally formed with a spring jaw designed to exert a pressure in the direction of the roove and to clamp in the groove one end of a lead stick to be projected through the barrel for writing or to be drawn into the barrel, a cap nut closing one end of the barrel, a screw threaded through the nut of the plate and received in the groove thereof and having a non-threaded port-ion passing through the cap nut, means on the said non-threaded portion of the screw contacting the opposite face of the cap nut for holding the screw against longitudinal movement, and a milled operating head on the outer end of the screw.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDWARD J. HOFFMAN. 

